1. strong fuel odor around vehicle, especially at night in garage. 2. leaking fuel pump on top of fuel tank. 3. fuel pump replaced by Volvo dealer.

- Tehachapi, CA, USA

Noticed a strong fuel smell from my 2003 Volvo V70. My mechanic found the issue being a leaking fuel pump. Volvo has issued recall notices on 2001 to 2002 Volvo V70, but did not include 2003 models. The issues appear to be exactly the same even though Volvo does not recognize this issue with the 2003 model.

- Irvine, CA, USA

My 2003 Volvo V70 with ~127,000 miles started leaking fuel from the fuel pump housing. The plastic housing failed on its own. Strong gasoline fumes entered the car even though the access panel and seal were intact. The vehicle was never involved in an accident and never had any service repair work on or near the fuel tank. I've had several cars over this mileage with never a fuel pump assembly failure of any type. This is definitely a premature failure that is either a design, quality or assembly problem.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

Gasoline overflows from the fill neck spilling down the car and onto the ground. This is a fire risk and an environmental violation. This has happened with various pumps at various gas stations. This never happened to me with any other car in 30 years. I have found others reporting the same problem on the web.

- Woodbury, CT, USA

Car would not start. My mechanic determined that the fuel pump had failed. I had to replace the fuel pump at my own expense - a lengthy repair that cost more than $1000. Although Volvo recall 181 does not apply to my vehicle, I wonder whether the fuel pump issue in Volvo recall 181 should apply to more vehicles such as my own. This may be worth more investigation.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

8/16/05-car stalled and suddenly lost power 3 times while car was operating at low speed on city roads. No check engine light came on. Each time it stalled, the car restarted and was able to proceed out of traffic and, after the third stall to the dealership for repair. 8/17/05-8/18/05-car repaired at sesi Volvo dealership, ann arbor Michigan. The throttle body was cleaned, mass air flow sensor replaced and rear oxygen sensor replaced. Service dept said car cleared the computer diagnostic tests and test drive was ok. Service person incorrectly wrote on the service invoice that "customer says check engine light is on all the time" this is not correct. I did not at any time see the check engine light on nor report that it was on to service people. 9/03/05-car stalled and suddenly lost power while driving at 65 M.P.H. on the highway at 10 pm at night. Car had traveled 150 miles from owner/driver's home at time of stalling and no check engine light came on before, during or after the stall. Driver able to steer car to shoulder, even with lack of power steering and avoid traffic proceeding at high speed behind vehicle. Car restarted for a few seconds 3 times before failing to start at all. Motorist, 52 year old woman, traveling alone, was stranded in a dangerous circumstance. Car coasted into gas station, motorist phoned aaa road service and car was towed 1 hour later to segna Volvo near columbus, Ohio. 9/7/05 segna motors service department reports to owner that car today starts fine, test drives fine and no computer codes are showing up in the computer's diagnostic system. They say the car seems fine, yet they are planning to contact Volvo corporation for a the company's technical advice on how to proceed. Owner severely dissatisfied that after repair of problem it recurred and driver was in dangerous position of losing power suddenly at 65 mph on the freeway and being stranded alone at night, will not accept a diagnosis that nothing is wrong with the car.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA